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Ray SharpWestern Upper Peninsula Health Department

rsharp@wuphd.org

Context:Houghton, Michigan

PopulationCity – 10,000County – 36,000

Home of Michigan Tech University & “Birthplace of Professional Hockey”

Like many rural areas: Limited funding and resources, declining population and tax base, aging population, high rates of chronic disease and obesity, and a 20th century transportation system designed for the automobile.

Unlike some rural areas: 300 inches of snow per year, the most east of the Rockies, is an additional challenge for active transportation.

Active Transportation: How and Why Make healthy lifestyle choices, including daily physical

activity, a safe, convenient and a normal part of everyday life. Complete Streets is a policy and planning process ensuring

that roadways accommodate the needs of all users, all ages and abilities, including pedestrians, cyclists and transit users.

Non-motorized transportation network plans create a vision and commit resources based on community needs.

Policy, systems and environmental (PSE) changes are “stickier” (more effective and sustainable) than simply repeating health promotion programs that have not had any long-term impact on childhood obesity and diabetes.

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Before Houghton became a healthy community and a bike-friendly city“Rust Belt” “Snow Belt”

Process for Progress Baseline Assessment Stakeholder Engagement Locally Tailored/Targeted Surveys Walking/Biking Audits (Engage City Officials) Planning (Evaluation, Education, Encouragement,

Enforcement, and of course, Engineering) Policy Built Environment Document and Celebrate Successes Repeat the Cycle

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2011 – Infrastructure ProjectsConnector trail Road diet/crosswalk

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2011– Safe Routes to SchoolThe Houghton Middle School Safe Routes Team developed a plan for 3 improved crosswalks, and sidewalks on key feeder roads, with participation from students, community members and city police and engineers. Recommendations were incorporated into the city master plan and non-motorized transportation plan.

2012 – Houghton-Hancock Bike/Pedestrian Survey and MDOT Planning

Hancock formed a bike/pedestrian committee similar to Houghton’s, the two sister cities conducted a joint survey with 800 respondents, maps were created with estimated bike usage by season, and a joint committee was consulted with by MDOT for roadway designs on M-26.

2013 – More Planning, More RecognitionThe Houghton Bike and Pedestrian committee used survey and crash data, sidewalk inventories and Safe Routes to School plans, and existing bike and pedestrian plans to create a Non-motorized transportation Plan that was adopted by the Planning Commission and City Council.And Houghton gained the Silver Level for Bike Friendly Community.

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2014Safe Routes to School Houghton Elementary

Bike to Work Day Walk and Roll to School Day

More than just health promotion Remember PSE (Policy-System-Environmental change)

and the 5E’s (Evaluation & Planning, Education, Encouragement, Enforcement and Engineering)

PSE interventions are ‘stickier’ When we work with schools and communities to make

walking a safe and convenient choice, people will make lifestyle changes and chronic disease risk will be reduced

When you talk to community leaders, describe community health in broad terms, including economic vitality and quality of life, to increase support from business and government stakeholders